- Born
- Died
- Birth nameSalvatore Phillip Bono
- Nickname
- Sonny
- Height5′ 5″ (1.65 m)
- Sonny Bono was born on February 16, 1935 in Detroit, Michigan, USA. He was an actor and composer, known for The Sonny and Cher Show (1976), Kill Bill: Vol. 1 (2003) and Hairspray (1988). He was married to Mary Bono, Susie Coelho, Cher and Donna Rankin. He died on January 5, 1998 in Stateline, Nevada, USA.
- SpousesMary Bono(March 1, 1986 - January 5, 1998) (his death, 2 children)Susie Coelho(December 31, 1981 - November 21, 1984) (divorced)Cher(October 27, 1964 - June 26, 1975) (divorced, 1 child)Donna Rankin(November 3, 1954 - October 1, 1962) (divorced, 1 child)
- Children
- Parents
- When Fox-TV announced plans to produce an autobiographical movie about Sonny & Cher in 1992, Sonny suggested Kevin Costner to play him and Roseanne Barr as Cher.
- Had a reputation for being self-deprecating. Even during his political career, he prided himself on not taking himself -- or being taken -- too seriously.
- According to his widow (fourth wife Mary Bono), Sonny Bono was addicted to painkillers at the time of his skiing accident death, and was taking up to 20 pills a day.
- Decided he had had enough of show business the day he was on the set of Fantasy Island (1977), shooting a scene with Hervé Villechaize as Tattoo, and misremembered Tattoo's name. Villechaize flew into a rage, sputtering at Bono, and Bono (as he related later) literally asked himself what the hell was he doing there.
- Became interested in politics rather late in life, when he decided he wanted a bigger sign for the restaurant he had opened in Palm Springs (California) and ran straight into red tape, dealing with the city government. Bono had never voted or registered before, but resolved to change things by running for mayor. He won the election, served a successful four-year term (lending his name and fame to the local economy), and wound up pursuing a whole new career as a politician.
- You're just borrowing (fame). It's like money. You're going to die, and somebody else is going to get it.
Contribute to this page
Suggest an edit or add missing content